Hello again. Today we found Lena and Julius!

If I am being honest, I suppose it would be more accurate to say she found us.

We sailed as normal for most of the day. Nothing seemed out of sorts, until the lookout or peeper, or whatever that fella in the crowsnest is called, started screaming about something. We saw what within moments. A massive bank of fog was coming on, and fast. How something so massive escaped out collective eyes is beyond me. Before anyone could make a move to try and avoid sailing inside. It was already sweeping over us.

Inside was eerily quite. The water stilled, the unceasing caress of waves against our hull, ceased. The whimpers and superstitious muttering of the crew died inches from their lips in the cool fog. Then, like the distant beams of a dying star, soft music drifted to us. A single flute, stretching the silence past its breaking point, and yet wearing the silence like a worn oft-patched cloak.

As we strained to hear the distant tune, ice started forming on the deck. Rimming the rails, and climbing the ropes. The still sheets of the sails became sheer drifts of ice. I stayed near Onica and Fen, putting out just enough heat to keep the ice around us at bay. I was curious to see where this was going. The sailors were not so fortunate. Their feet froze to the deck. Ice crawled steadily up their shaking frames. Finally ceasing its approach just under their necks.

They seemed, stunned. Dazed by the cold and the otherworldy music. They didn't struggle, several even fell to the deck, to let the ice take them quicker. Like they were prostating themselves before death itself. It was quite terrifying, watching grown men and woman lose all willingness to struggle, to live. To just literally lay down to die.

All the while, the music grew louder. Sadness, desolation, utter loneliness and despair. These were the feelings wrought by that single drifting flute. A tragic melody. It seemed to speak of homes lost, bridges broken, paths separated. 

Then, the mist seemed to coalesce into a fleet of ships. We were surrounded. Dozens of massive warships. Lined in frost, and crewed by people in heavy clothes. I noticed there were ships and crew of both Iceni and Shoto origin. All their heraldry and flags bore a single image. An icy blue spiral on a deep blue field. The largest of the ships loomed directly in front of us.

Then I saw them.

Lena was curled up on the seat of a ridiculously huge throne of ice. She was cradling her blue flute in her hands, and she had Julius snuggled up on her lap. The mood was somber, the air fraught with tension and dread. I shattered that stupid nonsense when I burst into laughter. Booming barks of joy and hilarity ripping from my chest. Finally! We were back!

I saw Lena flinch, while Julius' ears shot upwards. They both whipped their heads towards me. Their eyes equal parts disbelief and hope. I swept my hands up into the air, and sprayed a swathe of dancing firey butterflies that lit up the fog, adding color and life to the gray dead air. That was no atmosphere for a reunion!

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Before anyone else did anything, Onica was already next to Lena. She scooped the little one out of her silly throne, and I kid you not, started grooming her short blue hair. Julius took that as his cue, and rocketed towards me. He slammed into my chest, and brought me crashing to the icy deck. Then we started blowing fire into each others face. Enjoying the sensation of each others flames. I had missed him horribly. He was my oldest companion by far, and the one I was the closest to.

Fen added his own addition to my flock of firey butterflies. Dozens of lightning bugs zipped joyfully though the air as he drifted quickly towards Lena. Who seemed unable, or unwilling, to do anything besides burrow deeper into Onicas chest and cry. Happy tears, I hope.

I picked up Julius, plopped him on my head, and flew over to them. When I landed on the deck near them Lena shot out of Onicas arms and crashed into my chest. Then she promptly set about soaking my shirt. I wrapped her up in a hug, radiating warmth. Onica hugged her from behind, Fen settled on her head, and Julius sent good feeling from his perch on top of my head. There is only so much Lena to go around after all.

We spent a very long time like that. Just enjoying being together again. Eventually two people came over to us, walking very carefully. One of them coughed, clearly intent on breaking into our reunion. I very nearly incinerated them both. Luckily, for them, Lena looked up and then left our happiness huddle.

She skipped over to them, turned to looked at us and sent a blinding beaming smile right into our faces. "Guys! Let me introduce my suber-, subdor-, followers!" She twirled and waved her left hand at the short fellow on the right. "This is Rear Admiral Connor Truestock! Leader of an Iceni battlegroup I caught!" Then with another artful twirl she gestured to the lady to the left. "And this is Mistress of Ships Lady Ardreia Su! She was in charge of the entire Shoto fleet at one time!" 

The Rear Admiral was a weathered and wiry dwarf, whose dark brown hair had left the top of his head completely, seemingly having retreated to just over his lips in a massive mustache. While Lady Ardeia was a tall elf with cold eyes and a vicious scar running from just over her left eye back into her hairline. Which left her with a slender shock of white hair running through her otherwise inky black locks.

"They decided to renounce their loyalty to their former lords and follow me instead! On account of how awesome I am!" Lena continued proudly. I examined the pair closely. Connor seemed affable enough, and seemed to consider Lena a younger sister or daughter. I was more concerned about Ardeia. Her eyes were cold as the deepest seas, but when they fell on Lena they lit up with the fevered hues of fervor and zealotry. Which was weird.

"Con-con, Ardi, these are my friends!" She indicated us, with a proud smile on her face. "They're the best people ever!" She paused, seeming to consider something. "Besides me, of course. Try and get along. Ok?" 

We spent the next few minutes shaking hands and getting to know one another. I am seriously curious what Lena did to get two high ranking officers to turn their coats for her. The pair of them were very different. Connor jumped right from handshakes to dirty jokes, but Ardeia seemed cautious but curious about us. Connor, Julius, Fen, and I went looking for some food and drinks. While behind us I caught a glimpse of Onica, Lena, and Ardeia heading off in a different direction. Onica was fiddling with some glass vials, and passed some to Ardeia.

I think we will all get along just fine.

After that we started preparing for a ridiculously huge feast and party. The mist receded, but still lingered around the fleet. Keeping unwanted guests out of our hair. I'll have to get Lena to tell me all about what happened since we got split up. But thats a problem for tomorrow! 

Tonight is all about celebrating our reunion!

Goodnight.